Small Cranks and Jerkbaits for Summer

[papajoe222]

I've really been struggling this summer. Finesse soft plastics were the only presentations putting fish in the boat, far from my favorite way to fish.  I still start my day throwing hard baits and only switch to the finesse stuff if they don't get any love.  Twice last week, I switched from my normal cranks, swimbaits and spinners to smaller versions and was surprised when the bass didn't continue to ignore those faster presentations. Crappie sized cranks, small jerkbaits and even a Strike King Mini-King, which accounted for 15 of the 20 fish I boated on Thursday, I'm happily surprised that they worked when the bigger versions were ignored.  The overall size of the fish didn't diminish. I caught my biggest fish since June burning a small crank.

Anyone else tried downsizing their hard bait presentations when conditions were tough?

[Columbia Craw]

The last thing I’ll do this time of year is fish a Luhr Jensen 1/8 ounce Speed Trap in gravel draw on submerged rocky shoals, flats and points during the first hour of daylight.  Total waste of time.

[whitwolf]

I like this bait. It's small, no rattles, and you can fish these fast. I buy them from Deep Creek Lures.  

[txchaser]

Yep. 
A few for the list:

6th sense munch

Keitech 3.3 on an underspin

 

[softwateronly]

@papajoe222 Hard baits are not my thing, but Duo's spybait alpha has put LM, SM, and crappie in the boat this year.  

 

scott

[Jig Man]

Small square bills have worked well for us on some days in very shallow water.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Not many times downsizing a JB wont work.  Some of the best fall days ive ever had were days that started tough and going from a vision 110 to a Duo 85.  The baits fish very similar, I guess it was just the size.